Bomb and fall-out shelters



May 17, 1966 s. w. TRICE BOMB AND FALL-OUT SHELTERS Filed Oct. 27. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

- Siebe-rt W. Trice BY W mM/W May 17, 1966 s. w. TRICE BOMB AND FALL-OUT SHELTERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 27. 1961 INVENTOR.

Siebert W. Trice lm/z in Rudinger Patent 2,977,723.

V struct.

United States. Patent This invention relates to bomb and fall-out shelters and particularly to precast bomb shelters for individual family units or small groups which may be quickly and inexpensively set up and which afford the necessary protection against radioactivity fragmentation and heat which would be expected to attend an atomic explosion.

The need and desire for some satisfactory easily and inexpensively installed bomb shelter is known and recognized by all. The widespread death and destruction which might attend an atomic explosion in any area makes more significant the need for some form of protection for small family units, even in non-industrial and suburban areas which surround industrial centers. There have been several proposals for the construction of bomb shelters. They are, however, expensive to build and take considerable time for installation. For example, monolithic poured concrete shelters have been proposed as These shelters while being eflicient and serving the purpose are expensive to con- They require long curing times in order to attain the necessary strength and thus tie up equipment as well as forms and the like on the spot. Another form of cast situ shelter is represented by Lutteke Patent 2,729,966, which is subject to the same problems as the Rudinger patent. A precast bomb shelter has been proposed by Rudinger in Patent 2,822,765. This bomb shelter, however, is of such complex form as to be difficult to cast as well as difficult to assemble.

I have invented a fall-out and bomb shelter which is inexpensive to construct, which is precast and therefore eliminates the need for expensive casting operations on the spot and is made in segments which are simple to handle and assemble. The structure of the invention, when assembled, is strong and eliminates any possibility of gamma ray penetration.

I provide a precast masonry fall-out shelter having offset interfitting portions along all edges whereby to eliminate any straight-through passages between the sides and ends as well as the top and bottom. This structure provides great strength, with every member interlocked with every other member. Preferably I provide a precast masonryfloor member having step notches around all four edges, the side of said notches lying at an angle greater than 90 but less than 150 and an upstanding flange or tongue extending transversely across said member from one side to a point spaced from the opposite side, a pair of precast masonry end walls having step notches around all four edges, the sides of said notches lying at the same angle as the notches of the floor member, a pair of precast masonry side walls having step notches around all four sides and having the sides thereof at the same angle as the notches of the floor, a flange or tongue on one of said side walls extending transversely across the side and position to correspond with the flange or tongue on the floor member, an intermediate wall member adapted to slidably fit over and engage the flanges or tongues on the floor and sidewall and a top member having step notches'around all four edges adapted to interfit the notches of the end and side walls and a hatchway adjacent the intermediate wall. The parts are assembled and grouted at the joints to form a tight sealed unit in which the interfitting corners aid in supporting all parts of the assembly as a unitary whole.

In the foregoing general description I have set out certain purposes, objects and advantages of my invention.

Other objects, purposes and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings in which-- FIGURE 1 is an isometric view partly exploded and partly cut away of a bomb shelter according to my inventlon;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a form for casting the walls of the shelter of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line IIIIII of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a segment of mold for casting the floor of a shelter of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a section on the line VV of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of a segmentof mold for casting the roof of a shelter of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a section on the line VIll-VII of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of a mold for casting a blast wall for a shelter of this invention;

FIGURE 9 is a section on the line IX-IX of FIG URE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is an isometric view of a segment of the shelter of FIGURE 1 showing the indexing of the hatchway.

Referring to the drawings I have illustrated a bomb and fall-out shelter of the present invention. A floor It) is formed of precast reinforced concrete in mold 11 having a keyway 12 extending from one edge transversely across the surface to a point spaced from the opposite wall and a shoulder 13 extending around all four sides. The resulting cast floor has a flange or tongue 14 corresponding to keyway 12 and a notch 15 corresponding to shoulder 13 extending around its edges. The inner surface 16 of notch 15 is sloped so that the walls of the notch lie at an angle greater than to one another. This serves two purposes, case of release .from the mold and a grouting sealing area when assembled.

End walls 17 and sidewalls 18 are formed of precast reinforced concrete by casting in a mold such as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 having a shoulder 19, identical with 13 of mold 11, extending around the edges. One of the walls is provided with a flange or tongue 20 corresponding to flange or tongue 14 of the floor 10 extending transversely across its width. All of the ends and sides have notches 21 corresponding to notches 15' of the floor and interfitting therewith.

A roof 22 is formed of reinforced concrete by casting in a mold 23 having a keyway 24 corresponding to keyway 12 of the floor and shoulders 25 around all four sides, and a hatchway exit opening 2 2:: at one corner. The resulting cast roof has a flange or tongue 26 corresponding to keyway 24 and notches 27 corresponding to shoulders 25. These notches interfit with the corresponding notches of the end and side walls.

A blast wall 28 is formed of reinforced concrete cast in a mold 29 having an inner liner 30 carrying keyways 31. The resulting blast wall when removed from mold 29 carries with it inner mold liner 30 which is removed to leave keyways or grooves 32 along three sides of the blast wall.

The hatchway 33 is formed of precast reinforced concrete and is provided with projections 34 adapted to fit into corresponding openings 35 around the exit hatch opening 22a.

A doorway 36 may be optionally provided in the end wall adjacent the hatchway as indicated in chain line, if desired.

The shelter is assembled into a hole, previously dug, by lowering the floor 10 by means of lifting lugs 37 into place and thereafter placing the sidewalls 18 and cover.

end walls 17 in place also by lugs 37 having a cross-bar 3711 which are cast into the concrete (FIG. 2). All forms have slots 37b to receive lugs 37 prior to casting together with a thin sealing member 37c. The notches 21 interfit with the notches of the floor. The blast wall 28 is placed with keyways or grooves 32 fitting over flanges or tongues of the one sidewall and 14 of the floor and with a keyway open upwardly to receive flange 26 on the roof. A light grouting composition may be placed on the flanges or tongues or in the keyways or grooves 32 to seal the blast wall in place. The blast wall stops short of reaching across the entire floor so as to leave a passageway 40 from the entry 41 into the main room 42 of the shelter. The roof 22 is then placed on the end and sidewalls with notches 27 interfitting the corresponding notches of the end and sidewalls. The hatchway 33 is placed over the opening 22a With projections 34 fitting in openings 35 with a light grouting composition. The entire shelter is then covered with earth so as to provide the desired protective earth The interfitting corners are grouted and the shelter is ready for use.

' The device is ready for use as soon as assembled without any of the delays for curing or for forming building or the like which characterize cast in situ shelters. It is formed in simple, interfitting, readily installed parts which are readily stored in quantity and quickly assembled.

In the foregoing specification I have set out certain preferred embodiments of my invention, however, it will be understood that this invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

'1. A bomb and fall-out shelter comprising a precast concrete planar floor member having a rabbet along all four edges formed by two spaced edge surfaces in different parallel planes each perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces of the floor member and connected by a surface transverse to said planes and intermediate between said top and bottom surfaces of the floor member, a pair of precast concrete planar end members and a pair of planar side members, each having a rabbet along all four edges, said rabbet formed as in the floor member and mating therewith, the rabbets of the floor, ends and sidewalls being arranged on the floor member so that the joints formed by the mating surfaces of the rabbets are a tortuous contact line therebetween, an upstanding tongue on the floor member extending transversely of the side edges of said floor member from one side edge to a point spaced from the opposite side edge, a precast concrete planar roof member having a rabbet along each of the four edges identical with the rabbets of the floor member, said rabbets on said edges of the roof member mating with the rabbets of the side members and end members to form a tortuous contact line there/between, a downwardly extending tongue on the bottom surface of the roof member lying in a vertical plane containing said tongue on the floor member and co-extensive therewith, an outwardly standing tongue on the surface of one sidewall member, said tongue members and the adjacent end wall member, a precast hatchway indexed to said opening and extending upwardly from said roof member to form an access passage to said hatch opening and a precast planar blast wall member having grooves along three edges engaging the tongues of the floor member, the one sidewall and the roof members and terminating short of the other sidewall member to form a passage, said blast wall dividing the interior of the shelter into an entryway beneath the hatch opening and a main room separated from the hatch and entry way by the blast wall.

2. A bomb and fall-out shelter comprising a precast concrete planar floor member having a rabbet along all four edges formed by two spaced edge surfaces in different parallel planes each perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces of the floor member and connected by a surface normal to said planes and intermediate between said top and bottom surfaces of the floor member,

a pair of precast concrete planar end members and a I pair of planar side members, each having a rabbet along all four edges, said rabbet formed as in the floor member and mating therewith, the rabbets of the end and sidewall members being arranged on the floor member so that the joints formed by the mating surfaces of the rabbets are a tortuous contact line therebetween, an upstanding tongue on the floor member extending transversely of the side edges of said floor member from one side edge to a point spaced from the opposite side edge, a precast concrete planar roof member having a rabbet along each of the four edges identical with the rabbets of the floor member, said rabbets on said edges of the roof member mating with the rabbets of the side members and end members to form a tortuous contact line therebetween, a downwardly extending tongue on the bottom surface of the roof member lying in a,

vertical plane containing said tongue on the floor member and co-ex-tensive therewith, an outwardly standing tongue on the surface of one sidewall member, said "tongue on said sidewall member lying in the same vertical plane as the tongue on said floor member and extending from said upstanding tongue on said floor member to said downwardly extending tongue on said roof member to form a generally continuous tongue in three inter secting planes corresponding to the planes of said members, a hatch opening in the roof member between said vertical plane containing said tongues on the floor, roof and side members and the adjacent end wall, a precast hatchway indexed to said opening and extending upwardly from said roof member to form an access passage to said hatch opening and a precast planar blast wall member having grooves along three edges engaging the tongues of the floor member, the one sidewall and the roof members and terminating short of the other sidewall to form a passage, said blast wall dividing the interior of the shelter into an entryway beneath the hatch opening and a main room spearated from the hatch and entry way by the blast Wall.

3. A bomb and fall-out shelter comprising a precast concrete pannar floor member having a rabbet along all four edges formed by inner and outer spaced edge surfaces in different parallel planes each perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces of the floor'member and connected by a surface lying at an included angle greater than to the outermost edge surface and intermediate between said top and bottom surfaces of the floor member, a pair of precast concrete planar end members and a pair of planar side members, each having a rabbet along all four edges, said rabbet formed as in the floor member and mating therewith, the rabbets of the end and sidewall members being arranged on the floor member so that the joints formed by the mating surfaces of the rabbets are a tortuous contact line therebetween, an upstanding tongue on the floor member extending transversely of the side edges of said floor member from one side edge to a point spaced from the opposite side edge, a precast concrete planar roof member having a rabbet along each of the four edges identical with the rabbets of the floor member, said rabbets on said edges of the roof member mating with the rabbets of the side members and end members to form a tortuous contact line therebetween, a downwardly extending tongue on the bottom surface of the roof member lying in a vertical plane containing said tongue on the floor member and co-eXtensive therewith, an outwardly standing tongue on the surface of one sidewall member, said tongue on said sidewall member lying in the same vertical plane as said tongue on said floor member and extending from said upstanding tongue on said floor member to said downwardly extending tongue on said roof member to form a generally continuous tongue in three intersecting planes corresponding to the planes of said members, a hatch opening in the roof member between said vertical plane containing said tongues of the floor, roof and side members and the adjacentend wall, a precast hatchway indexed to said opening and extending upwardly from said roof member to form an access passage to said hatch opening and a precast planar blast wall member having grooves along three edges engaging the tongues of the floor member, the one sidewall and the roof members and terminating short of the other sidewall member to form a passage, said blast wall dividing the interior of the shelter into an entry Way beneath the hatch opening and a main room separated from the hatch and entry Way by the blast wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 530,380 12/ 1 894 Barcus 62-136 864,241 8/1907 Gipe 52-138 877,095 1/1908 Laechle 52-141 941,986 11/1909 Fry 52-142 1,389,553 8/1921 Hyman 52-234 X 1,772,744 7/ 1929 Haase 52-141 1,837,402 12/1931 B-roughton 52-137 2,162,137 6/ 1939 Torricelli 52-142 2,591,607 4/1952 Rich 25-121 2,758,353 8/ 6 Carlson et a1 25-12 1 2,822,765 2/1958 Rudinger 109-1 2,977,723 4/ 1961 Ru dinger 52-169 FOREIGN PATENTS 481,598 3/1952 Canada.

864,638 1/1941 France.

961,924 4/ 1957 Ger-many.

520,399 4/ 1940 Great Britain.

534,660 3/1941 Great Britain,

OTHER REFERENCES Meyer, German application, 1,074,852, printed February 4, 1960.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

ALBERT H. KAMPE, JACOB L. NACKENOFF,

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Examiners.

C. S. KAIMAN, A. C. PERHAM, Assistant Exan'ziners. 

1. A BOMB AND FALL-OUT SHELTER COMPRISING A PRECAST CONCRETE PLANAR FLOOR MEMBER HAVING A RABBET ALONG ALL FOUR EDGES FORMED BY TWO SPACED EDGE SURFACES IN DIFFERENT PARALLEL PLANES EACH PERPENDICULAR TO THE TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES OF THE FLOOR MEMBER AND CONNECTED BY A SURFACE TRANSVERSE TO SAID PLANES AND INTERMEDIATE BETWEEN SAID TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES OF THE FLOOR MEMBER, A PAIR OF PRECAST CONCRETE PLANAR END MEMBERS AND A PAIR OF PLANAR SIDE MEMBERS, EACH HAVING A RABBET ALONG ALL FOUR EDGES, SAID RABBET FORMED AS IN THE FLOOR MEMBER AND MATING THEREWITH, THE RABBETS OF THE FLOOR, ENDS AND SIDEWALLS BEING ARRANGED ON THE FLOOR MEMBER SO THAT THE JOINTS FORMED BY THE MATING SURFACES OF THE RABBETS ARE A TORTUOUS CONTACT LINE THEREBETWEEN, AN UPSTANDING TONGUE ON THE FLOOR MEMBER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ON THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID FLOOR MEMBER FROM ONE SIDE EDGE TO A POINT SPACED FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE EDGE, A PRECAST CONCRETE PLANAR ROOF MEMBER HAVING A RABBET ALONG EACH OF THE FOUR EDGES IDENTICAL WITH THE RABBETS OF THE FLOOR MEMBER, SAID RABBETS ON SAID EDGES OF THE ROOF MEMBER MATING WITH THE RABBETS OF THE SIDE MEMBERS AND END MEMBERS TO FORM A TORTUOUS CONTACT LINE THEREBETWEEN, A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING TONGUE ON THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE ROOF MEMBER LYING IN A VERTICAL PLANE CONTAINING SAID TONGUE ON THE FLOOR MEMBER AND CO-EXTENSIE THEREWITH, AN OUTWARDLY STANDING TONGUE ON THE SURFACE OF ONE SIDEWALL MEMBER, SAID TONGUE 